Iron County register., 1887-12-22
TIE GARFIELD FARM.
One of the Most Charming. Country Places
I'm t.ls Vicinity of Cleveland.

in the Vicinity of Cleveland.
The old farm in Mentor. which Gar,
field bought some years before his
death. and on which he used to spend
about the happiest days of his life, is
full country residences in the vicinity
of Cleveland. None of the family is
at present there. though it has come
to be recognized as the family home.
Uncle Joseph Rudolph. Mr.. Garfield's
brother. stays on the place, and looks
after it and after the extensive i'm
provements which are being made upon
it. Additions have been built to the
old house. and every thing that
money would do to make it
lovely home has been done OF
course q plumper's bill can give
no idea of the amount of work per-
forme d. but even plumber could
hardly have the hardihood to charge
$13 900 for his services unless he had
at least driven by the house, and $13,-
600 is the amount which has been paid
to plumbers for their last summers
work upon the house and its dependen-
cies. The other outlays have been in
proportion.
This is only carrying out General
Garfield's idea. He always loved the
farm, and loved to consider himself a
farmer. He loved farm people and
farm ways, and the plain, homely talk
of farm neighbors. He always went
away from the Mentor home freshened
and frightened in mind and body, and
with his face bronzed and his hands
hardened by work. Whatever charms
the excit ement of political life
had for him he was al
ways anticipating his return to
the quiet Mentor home, and it was
there he had planned to spend the de-
clining years of his life. His devoted
wife in clinging to the old place and
making it the family home is only
knowing what she knew would be
most pleasing to him. Her beautiful
Cleveland home is for sale, and has
been for some time, although the price
she asks for it-S50. 00O-is not ex-
travagantly high. The Washington
house brought about what the ap-
praiscrs estimated it at-S3O, 600.
The total appraised value of Garfield
real estate was put down at S37, 600 in
round numbers. He paid $1,000 for
the Mentor farm. though. of course, at
the time of his death it was worth
much more than that. In fact, some
years before he died, he put mort
gage of $S 600 upon it, which. for some
reason, he did not release for a long
time, though he was abund antly able
to do so.
Indeed. there was at the time of
General Garfield's death very gem
eral misrepresentation as to his finan-
cial condition. 1t was the common
opinion that he was comparatively a
poor man. The fact is that he was
comparatively rich man. There are
here in gainesville one CT two men
who arc millionaires. but a man here
abouts who can command $50. coo is a
rich man. General Garfield left, at
the appraisers very low estimate. a
good deal over S100. 900 in almost in
stantly available assets.
1t will be rememb cred that he left
Aao-will. His brother-in-law, Uncle
Joseph Rudolph, was appointed ad-
ministrator, and his bondsmen were
Dr. w. S. Streator, n. B. Shewrin
and DR.. j. p Robinson. No man in
Ohio stands higher in point of busi-
ness honor and sound business julg-
ment than DR.. Streator. and both he and
DR.. Robinson were warm, intimate
friends of General Garfield. Sherwin
was at one time postmaster in Cleve-
land, and is sharp, shrewd little man.
whose admiration for Garfield amounta
ed to sort of frenzy. The amount of
the bond was 800, 00O The appraisers
were DE- Robinson, E. I. A. A!drich
and William Murray the Second. Mr.
Murray is always particular to sign
himself Murray the Second for some
reason, an uncle having enjoyed the
distinction of being Murray the First.
The appraisers filed their inventories
in the Lake County Probate Office on
March IL, 1892 They set aside the
$40 600 in money, and something over
$1,000 in other property for the sup
port of the family during the twelve.
month, and after this they s-r1sTs.1 =
the balance of The personal property
at about S6S. 900. The entire
estate, therefore, including the
S37. 600 real estate, amounted.
according to the appraisement,
to between s112, 900 and S115. O00 So
that even had not the people come
with their generous impulse to the
help of the family. General Garfield's
wife and children would have been
left in by no means destitute circum-
stances.
1t was a good deal of surprise to
the people here-that is. to some of
them-to learn that the General was
in such comfortable circums tances,
and there are many who believe that
he was worth even more than that,
and that his property at the time of
his death would not have fallen much
short of 5000. 900 or $3.50. 600. This.
however. is largely a matter of spec
ulation, and is based upon the gratui-
tous assumption that the appraisers
and those near him. who had the
management of the affairs, would not
overcstimate his wealth or do any
thing to overthrow the popular belief
that he died a poor man. -PatnesrtAe
iO) Cor Chicago Herald.